B.F. Meek & Sons Kentucky Fishing Reels

B.F. Meek & Sons - Louisville, KY

B.F. Meek's son, Sylvanus, is credited with making the early reels marked "B.F. Meek &
Sons". He and his brother Pitman started helping his father and his company in 1890.
They continued in the business until 1898 when Pitman Meek dies. They then sold the
company to J.J. Sutcliffe, et al. For a 2 year period around 1900, the reels were marked "Blue
Grass Reel Works." This was a time when there was litigation between the Meek
company and the Milam company on who can lay claim to the title of "The
Frankfort Kentucky Reel." There are three grades of reels marked "B.F. Meek &
Sons." The most expensive were simply marked No. 2, No. 3, etc. The mid-grade
reels were the Blue Grass line. They were marked Blue Grass No. 3, 4 or 5. The
inexpensive line were takeapart-type reels and were marked with the No.'s 25, 33
or 34. The reels were marked "B.F. Meek &
Sons" until 1916 when the company was sold to Horton
Mfg. in Connecticut.

Meek History - B.F. Meek was a watchmaker in Louisville in 1882 when he established his reel
making shop. He had previously been partners with his brother and made reels
marked "J.F. & B.F. Meek" (circa 1839 to 1850) and later with fellow apprentice
B.C. Milam and marked the reels "Meek & Milam" (circa 1853 to 1881). He is
credited with making the first reel to incorporate spiral cut gears and oil
holes for the bearings. His reels were marked "B.F. Meek" from 1882 to 1890.
B.F. Meek died in 1901. All Meek fishing reels are collectable and those
marked "J.F. & B.F. Meek" or "B.F. Meek" are very rare.

The B.F. MEEK & SONS Reels

The B.F. MEEK & SONS German Silver & Hard Rubber Reels

The B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 2 Reel, circa 1910

B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 2 CLUB SPECIAL Reel, circa 1910

B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 2 Tournament Reel, circa 1910

B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 2 Tournament Reel, circa 1900

B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 3 Reel, circa 1900

B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 3 Reel, circa 1905

B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 3 FREE-SPOOL Reel, circa 1915

B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 4 Reels, circa 1905

B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 5 Reel, circa 1905

B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 6 Reel, circa 1900

B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 8 Reel, circa 1899

B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 8 and No. 11 Reels, circa 1910

B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 44 Fly Reel, 2nd Model, circa 1900

B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 44 Fly Reel, 3rd Model, circa 1911

BLUE GRASS REEL made by B.F.MEEK & SONS, No's. 3 and 4, circa 1900

B.F. MEEK & SONS No's. 3 and 4 BLUE GRASS Reels, circa 1915

B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 4 BLUE GRASS Reel, circa 1910

B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 5 BLUE GRASS Reel, circa 1910

B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 3 Tournament Award Reel

Engraving on a B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 3 Reel

B.F. MEEK & SONS Screwdriver and Oiler

B.F. MEEK & SONS Left and Right Hand No. 11 Reels

B.F. MEEK & SONS Reel Catalog, circa 1899

B.F. MEEK & SONS No. 10 Reel, circa 1905

1907 B.F. MEEK & SONS Ad

B.F. MEEK & SONS 1911 Catalog

B.F. MEEK & SONS 1902 Magazine Ad

To see the PowerPoint Presentation made by Ron Gast at the 2013 ORCA Convention in Frankfort, KY,
about B.F. Meek Reels, click on the link below.